N. Korea repeats warship sinking denial

North Korea has sent a statement to UN members repeating a denial that it torpedoed a South Korean warship, the communist country's state media reported Monday.South Korean President Lee Myung-bak salutes the portraits of the deceased sailors from the Cheonan during a funeral at a navy base at Pyeongtaek in April. (Jung Yeon-je/Associated Press)

World - Shanghai apartment fire kills 8

Fire engulfed a highrise apartment building under renovation in China's business centre of Shanghai on Monday, killing at least eight people, injuring more than 90 and sending some residents racing down scaffolding to escape.More than 80 fire trucks were called to fight a fire that engulfed a highrise apartment building in China's business centre of Shanghai

World - Burmese flee homes as tensions increase

Hundreds of people living along the border between Burma and Thailand fled their homes overnight Sunday, trying to escape renewed fighting between the Burmese army and one of the country's largest ethnic rebel groups.
Fighting between the Burmese military and ethnic Karen rebels follows the release of pro-democracy leader Aung Sung Suu Kyi.

World - Mexico resort blast kills 5 Canadians

 

Family members of hotel employees wait for news after a gas explosion at the Grand Riviera Princess Hotel in Cancun on Sunday.
Mexican officials are trying to determine what triggered a gas explosion at a Playa del Carmen hotel complex on the weekend that killed two Mexicans and five Canadians, including a nine-year-old boy and a newlywed.

British pair freed from pirates, BBC UK

A retired British couple are freed more than a year after being taken captive by Somali pirates who boarded their yacht off the Seychelles.

Seven die in fire in immigrant hostel in Dijon, France

Several people jumped out of windows to escape the blaze in Dijon
Seven people have been killed and 11 seriously injured by a fire in a nine-storey hostel housing immigrants in the eastern French city of Dijon.
One person died after jumping from the seventh floor of the building, while the other six died from the effects of smoke inhalation.

Troop pull-out urged in Nicaragua-Costa Rica border row

Nicaragua says its troops will not withdraw
The Organization of American States has urged Nicaragua and Costa Rica to withdraw their security forces from a disputed river border, where there has been tension for a month.
In a resolution, the OAS said the two countries should begin urgent talks to resolve their differences.

US offers Israel incentive plan for settlement freeze

Israel's 10-month construction freeze in the West Bank expired on 26 September
Israel's prime minister has briefed his cabinet on a package of incentives the US has proposed if it renews a partial freeze on settlement construction.Washington has reportedly said it will strengthen its commitment to oppose UN resolutions critical of Israel, and

Ireland 'in preliminary talks with EU on bailout'

The Republic of Ireland's government has not formally denied it is in talks with the EU
The Republic of Ireland is in preliminary talks with EU officials for financial support, the BBC has learned.
It is now no longer a matter of whether but when the Irish government formally approaches the European Financial Stability Fund

ESA Science & Technology: Call for a Medium-size mission opportunity for a launch in 2022

Through the present Call for Missions the Director of Science and Robotic Exploration solicits from the broad scientific community proposals for the competitive selection of mission concepts to be candidate for the implementation of one medium-size (M-class) mission for launch in 2022, following the launch of the first L-class mission. The deadline for submission of proposals is 3 December 2010, 12:00 (noon) Central European Time.